In this episode, we chat with Melissa Andrews, president and CEO of LeadingAge Virginia, about her unique journey from art history major to a prominent leader in aging services. Melissa reflects on her early career as an assistant curator at the Hebrew Home in Riverdale, NY, and how it shaped her passion for serving older adults. She discusses the evolving landscape of aging services, addressing workforce and regulatory challenges, and highlights efforts to develop future leaders through programs like the Leadership Academy. Melissa also shares insights into her leadership style, rooted in humor and compassion, and emphasizes the importance of embracing change to drive organizational growth.

VSAE ConneXions is produced by Association Briefings.

Show notes

Melissa Andrews joined the LeadingAge Virginia staff as President & CEO in 2016. Melissa leads the overall affairs of the association and foundation, working closely with the Boards of Directors to advance the missions and elevate the conversation about aging in the Commonwealth ultimately impacting elders’ lived experience through policy and systems change, direct service expansion, and regulatory reform.

Melissa also serves as President & CEO of PositiveAge, a LeadingAge Virginia foundation, transforming the aging experience in Virginia by securing funds to build coalitions and develop innovative solutions to promote positive aging.

Prior to joining the LeadingAge Virginia team, Melissa spent 14 years at LeadingAge (national) developing her expertise in not for profit board governance and strategic planning.

Melissa was a class of 2010 LeadingAge Larry Minnix Leadership Academy fellow, holds the BoardSource© Certificate of Nonprofit Board Education, and in 2013, Melissa received The Coalition for Leadership in Aging Services’ Certified Aging Services Professional national certification. She is also a Dementia Friends Virginia Master Trainer.

In this episode, we sit down with Craig Toalson, CAE, CEO of the Home Builders Association of Virginia, to explore the evolving role of associations from advocacy organizations to community hubs. Toalson discusses strategies for engaging students and non-traditional members, highlighting the success of the Virginia Builder Summit, which attracted 770 attendees, including 110 construction trade students. He emphasizes the importance of personalized communication and engagement for member retention and shares insights from his volunteer work, illustrating how advocacy efforts can extend beyond political arenas to make a broader impact.

VSAE ConneXions is produced by Association Briefings.

In this episode, we talk to Lowell Aplebaum, EdD, FASAE, CAE, CPF, CEO of Vista Cova, offering valuable insights into the vital relationships between CEOs and board members. Lowell explores how leadership has evolved in recent years and underscores the importance of creating inclusive and intentional pathways for future leaders. He also addresses the challenges CEOs and boards face, such as misconceptions about power dynamics and the necessity of establishing a governance structure that keeps the organization's mission at the forefront.

VSAE ConneXions is produced by Association Briefings.

Show notes

Lowell Aplebaum, EdD, FASAE, CAE, CPF is the CEO of Vista Cova – a company that partners with organizations on strategic visioning and planning, reviewing & aligning governance structures, training stronger Board members, and providing expert facilitation. As an IAF Certified™ Professional Facilitator, Lowell frequently provides dynamic sessions to organizations - getting volunteers, members, and staff involved through experiential learning approaches.

After starting his career in the informal education realm, over the course of more than a decade, Lowell worked inside associations as a COO as well as in the realms of membership, volunteer leadership establishment and growth, and global alliance building. His passion for facilitation led to the founding of Vista Cova where he has worked with hundreds of nonprofit organizations from local to global, from trade to individual member and foundations.

In addition to his role as CEO, Lowell is actively involved in various leadership capacities within the ASAE, including serving on the ASAE Research Committee and as a past Chair for the overseeing commission for the Certified Association Executive (CAE) credential. He also chaired ASAE’s Task Force on CEO Pathways and previously led as Chair for ASAE’s Component Relations Council. He serves on the Curriculum Committee and as an instructor for the US Chamber of Commerce’s IOM program. Additionally, Lowell has contributed significantly to the field, co-executive editing and contributing as an author for ASAE’s Component Relations Handbook, 2nd edition, and contributing chapters to the latest versions of Professional Practices of Association Management and Membership Essentials. He is committed to building a stronger future for nonprofits and associations, co-founding the CAE Scholarship and serving as a mentor for ASAE’s Diversity Executive Leadership Program.